[June 13] Broadband provider Global TeleSystems, Inc. (GTS) announced Tuesday an agreement to host two of Network Solutions' global top-level domain name registry servers in Europe.

VeriSign subsidiary Network Solutions maintains the definitive directory for Web addresses and is responsible for ensuring that these addresses are propogated throughout the Internet.

GTS operates GTS Ebone, Europe's largest Tier-1 Internet backbone, as well as secure hosting centers -- including a new center in London, also announced Tuesday.

"We chose GTS because their hosting centers and GTS Ebone IP backbone are at the center of the European Internet market," said Bruce Chovnick, general manager of Network Solutions' Registry business.

Paul Nemirovsky, president of GTS Hosting Services, said that Internet users in Europe will now experience faster look-up times, less congestion and better connectivity as a result of the deal with Network Solutions.

Initially, GTS will host Network Solutions' servers at its London and Amsterdam hosting centers, providing domain name resolution for Internet users everywhere.

The Network Solutions Registry supports 44 active ICANN accredited registrars in 13 countries. It is the sole registry for all .com, .net and .org domain names.

GTS operates a pan-European fiber network connecting 35 cities, together with five city enterprise networks. It claims to have the largest pan-European customer base and the largest European cross-border fiber optic network.